Gender equality minister hit for insensitive remarks on mayoral by-elections

Gender Equality and Family Minister Lee Jung-ok speaks at a meeting of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts held at the National Assembly in Seoul, Thursday. / Yonhap

By Park Han-sol

Remarks made by Gender Equality Minister Lee Jung-ok have become a source of controversy as she called the by-elections in Seoul and Busan, where the mayorships became vacant after the two former mayors faced sexual harassment allegations, an “opportunity for people to collectively learn about gender-related issues.”

At the National Assembly's meeting of the Special Committee on Budget and Accounts, Thursday, a question arose from the main opposition People Power Party (PPP) members on how the 83.8 billion won raised through taxes, which will be spent to facilitate next April's mayoral by-elections, will have an impact on sexual assault victims and women in general.

Lee then responded, “This incident, which will require a big budget, can be an opportunity for people to collectively learn about gender-related issues.”

Her comment was taken to mean that the expenses will serve as an “education fee,” which drew immediate criticism from one of the sexual harassment victims and members of opposition parties.

The victim of former Busan Mayor Oh Keo-don's sexual harassment expressed her frustration with the remark in a statement disclosed by the Busan Counseling Center Against Sexual Violence the same day, saying, “If this incident is an opportunity for collective learning, does this make me study material?”

She added, “I didn't want to bother anyone with my problem, so I've been trying my best to act normal and scrape by. But how can the gender equality minister reduce my life to a simple lesson?”

Nearly 300 women's rights organizations nationwide, including the Busan counseling center representing the victim, issued a joint press release, Thursday, calling for the minister's resignation.

“Victims are not tools to be used to raise awareness of gender issues,” the group said, expressing shock at how the head of the gender equality ministry, who should prioritize protection and assistance for victims, has viewed the recent sexual assault cases.

Jeong Ho-jin, spokesperson of the minor progressive Justice Party, also denounced the minister's comment. “Next year's by-elections are being carried out because of the sexual offenses stemming from the power imbalance (between the mayors and the victims who worked for them). Is the minister looking away from the essence of the incidents and instead attempting to defend them (the mayors) with outrageous remarks?” she said.

Facing the backlash, Lee apologized to the victim during the latter part of the Assembly session, acknowledging that she herself needs to make efforts to prioritize the victims' perspectives.